Dusk had fallen over the town. The last light had disappeared an hour ago and by now the dark was quickly coming in. Only half an hour after sundown, only the street lamps shed any light. Some houses still had Yule lights up, with the Rosewood standing out because Rose had decorated colorful paper stars in each window, lighting them up with small light bulbs. It looked incredible and always drew children and adults alike to gaze at the display.

Ezra sat under the wooden awning of Potter's Hardware, watching thick, fat flakes of snow drift from the darkness above him, landing in the already so very silent streets. The snow was coming down in a light, almost ethereal shower. There was no one on the roads, there was no one in the woods, and there was no one stupid enough to go out of town in this weather, at this time of night.

Everything seemed to be wrapped in a fluffy blanket, the snow mostly undisturbed as people had sought the warmth of their houses as the heavy snow fall had come in the late afternoon.

Evening patrol had been a solitary affair. He had actually enjoyed it, checking in on Vin, who had night shift at the sheriff station. The Mark brothers were currently locked up in there, after starting a fight in the saloon. It had been the usual reason: money.

Michael was the farmer of the two, the one who had inherited the farm and the animals. Robert was the brainy one, had been at a prestigious city college, had a degree in agriculture, and had a ton of money from his consultation work. Both never saw eye to eye. Michael was a hard worker, someone who knew the land and how to handle the farm. Robert was all theory and no hands-on experience, and he liked to talk about how much money he had and how little his brother was making.

So it had come to blows.

Vin had dragged them both to jail, locking them up to give the Marks time to cool down. They had been screaming at each other for a while, but now there was silence.

Ezra made his rounds around their small town. His footprints were already filling in with new snow and by tomorrow there would be a lot to shovel out of the streets and off the roofs again.

Bundled up against the cold that didn't bother him as much as he let on, Ezra let the silence envelop him. He was listening for possible trouble, alert in case anyone was trying something illicit tonight, but winter was usually a time where the crime rate dropped. No one liked to hang around in the cold.

A cold patrolled by the Larabee pack.

Exhaling softly, breath clouding in front of his eyes, Ezra pushed up from his seat and went on another round, sharp eyes on the silent houses and businesses. The windows were dark, the doors locked and bolted. No one was skulking around, no one was trying anything. It was a nice change from those nights where he scared of a few teens lurking in a corner, or hauled some drunk cowhand off to sober up in a cell. Now and then new-arrivals turned out to be crooks or criminals, attempting a break or trying to steal horses.

Not in winter, though.

When he finally walked back into the sheriff station, Vin looked up from his book.

"Nothing happening, I guess," the tracker remarked.

"Silent night," Ezra quipped as he stomped over to the coffee pot and poured himself a mug-full.

"Same here. They're either pouting or sleeping." Vin grinned. "Got it from here."

Ezra stretched and sipped his coffee. He spent the next minutes watching the snow through the window, keeping Vin company. Vin had returned to his book, already mostly through. He finally left the other man to his night shift and the last chapters in his favored crime novel series.

Chris was standing in the street just outside the sheriff station, a mass of black fur and golden eyes, a light dusting of snow settling on the thick pelt. Ezra grinned at the sight and was very tempted to flick a few flakes off the alpha's nose. Anyone else would probably have wet himself, seeing the massive black wolf in the middle of the night. Chris was a sight to behold and he still scared even those townspeople who had seen him plenty times already in his shifted form. Ezra had witnessed it countless times, even in Mary, who couldn't suppress a very human reaction when faced with an apex predator. Fear. Not just startled. It was fear.

::To what do I owe the honor, dear sir?:: he teased.

Chris joined him as they walked along the street, each tread almost silent. He left huge paw prints in the snow, but they disappeared quickly again, swallowed by the fresh flakes coming from above.

::Thought I'd see you safely home:: he replied, laughter in his voice.

::Why, I am honored, Mr. Larabee. Whatever would I do should a miscreant try to rob my person?::

::You'd talk them to death, Ezra::

::You flatter me::

Chris bumped his head playfully against Ezra's hip and Ezra's hand brushed over the thickly furred head. He tugged at one ear, mirroring what Chris had done so long ago when Ezra had been in his shifted fox form. The Fenris snapped at the offending fingers, dangerously sharp teeth closing harmlessly over the gloved fingers.

::Do not for one minute believe I will see this as an invitation to frolick through this abominable snow:: Ezra told him firmly, limb still caught in the wolf jaws.

The alpha chuckled and released him. ::I would never::

Ezra raised his eyebrows, still walking toward his place. Chris didn't push, simply walked along, and when they climbed the back stairs of the saloon, entering through a door that was only for personnel and Ezra's use, he shifted smoothly. He seemed barely bothered by the cold, though there were goosebumps. The dark blond hair hung heavily on his head, weighed down by the melting snow, and he ran careless fingers through it.

Unsurprisingly, Chris's clothes were in Ezra's room. As were some more personal things. In the past months stuff had… migrated. Toiletries, books, assorted clothes and another pair of boots. Just like the owner of said stuff had migrated, too. Larabee didn't sleep here every night, and he spent days away in his cabin, but it was a lot more than before… before the storm. Before getting to know Ezra as who and what he was.

Ezra in turn found he didn't mind. Those past months had changed something in him, for him. It felt like a last step had been taken, signing and dealing what had started over two years ago. It closed a chapter in his life forever, opening a new one, opening a new path that he was only too willing to take. Saying what they were to each other out loud seemed to have flipped a switch. They were more open around each other, showed affection to a degree, everyone else be damned. Chris didn't kiss him senseless in public, but they would be close, would touch in a more intimate manner.

And he had seen the change in the behavior of those people around them; around the pack. The pack had known, hadn't been surprised. Maybe people in town had known, too, but now it was out in the open.

Chris watched him, those eyes still glowing and inhuman, but so very much Chris. Ezra hung up his coat, then slipped out of the winter boots and started to undress. The watchful eyes dimmed slowly, turning human, and he closed the distance to chase a little kiss across the other man's lips.

They made it into the nice, warm bed, under the covers, and Ezra smiled as Chris cuddled close to him. The man was a cuddler, even if he would deny it with his dying breath. Running his fingers through the still slightly damp hair, he drew a murmur of appreciation from the alpha. Ezra pressed a kiss to his forehead, then his nose.

Outside it was snowing heavily now, thick enough to make tomorrow one of those days where shoveling snow was all people did until midday. Nothing and no one would go in or out of Four Corners, unless it was a dire emergency, and knowing Josiah and Buck they would patrol in their shifted forms to enjoy the winter wonderland.

Chris ran calloused fingers over Ezra's side, coming to rest on the white lines that was all that had remained of the attack. His thumb caressed over the thickest one, then the hand stilled, warm and heavy on his ribcage. Ezra just closed his eyes with a contented sigh.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"You should head out for a few days."

Chris glanced at his second-in-command as Vin shuffled through his cards. Both men were in the saloon, playing an easy hand, keeping an eye on the evening crowd. With the change of the weather and the season, more people were coming in. Some seasonal workers, some just now able to get from their farms to the nearest town.

"Head out," he echoed.

"Yep. Way out."

He raised his brows.

"Not just the cabin."

Chris left the brows up. Tanner grinned.

"You and Ez. Just go," he told him in his laid-back, easy manner. "We got this."

Chris chuckled, playing a card. "Don't doubt it."

"I think Ez needs some time away from here, to clear his head."

"You think?"

There was an eloquent shrug. "Sometimes a run isn't enough. He might think he's a city boy, but he's a shifter first. After what happened lately, he could use some air. Instincts are a bitch."

Larabee lowered his brows a little, but Vin only smiled at him.

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah." Of course he did.

Chris had noticed how recent events had gotten to Ezra, even if his mate didn't say a word. He had been careful lately, had looked over his shoulder more often, even though nothing had happened. No one in town treated him like they thought he was an abomination and should be chased away or worse. If someone knew he was a crossbreed, no one came forward.

But Ezra couldn't not be suspicious, ever since Travis had dropped the latest bomb.

Nothing had come of that in any way. The Judge got Chris' regular reports and when Larabee had inquired about any changes, he had simply told him that everything was running smoothly, with no hiccups. No one on the Board was out for Ezra's head, or the pack's dismissal as regulators.

"Go ahead. Pack. Weather's good enough."

"You got a feeling?"

Vin smirked, then tipped his head and walked off. Chris laughed. Yeah, the Territory protector had a feeling. He didn't really want to know, just head out of here, take Ezra with him. They needed some time alone, he was sure of it. A long patrol ride sounded just like fine. As pack alpha it was his duty to be seen outside regular patrol routes, which meant the heart of the Territory, too.

Chris folded his cards and rose from the chair. He gave the other man a brief nod and Vin just gathered up all the cards to shuffle them.

xXxXxX

Ezra's expression of misgiving and annoyance was expected and almost comical. Chris knew his mate was putting up an act, that he did what was expected of him, which was complain about leaving his comfortable bed and spend three nights minimum on the trail, in the wild, without any creature comforts.

"At least we're taking horses," he grumbled as he packed his bags.

"Unless you don't want to," Chris teased.

Clear outrage shone in the green eyes. "You, my dear sir, are walking a fine line already!"

Larabee laughed and shook his head, patiently waiting as Ezra went through his clothes, trying to decide what to take.

It was show.

Clear and simple.

Because in the end all the fancy stuff stayed in the drawers and closet, Ezra had a small riding bag tightly bound, and he was dressed in his less flashy jeans and light brown coat. Gloves, scarf and hat were donned, then they were on their way to the stables.

Each horse was already saddled and there was enough food in the saddlebags to last them a while. Since Chris was also counting on a hunt or two, in either form, he wasn't worried about going hungry.

tbc...